EU Statement - 18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Item 7: International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032)
18th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Item 7: International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032)
17 July 2025
EU statement
Distinguished Members of the Expert Mechanism, distinguished Indigenous representatives,
In the context of the decade of Indigenous Languages, the European Union underscores its unwavering commitment to the rights of Indigenous Peoples as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international human rights law, to revitalize, use, develop and transmit their languages. Today’s session is an important moment to take stock, to identify challenges and redouble efforts to translate global priorities into actions on regional, national and local levels.
Indigenous Peoples’ languages are vital for the transmission of cultural knowledge, oral histories, and social values across generations. They also offer ecological insights contributing to sustainable natural resource governance and to the responsible use and protection of the natural environment. However, as they are increasingly endangered, every single loss of an Indigenous language represents a significant cultural and intellectual impoverishment for humanity as a whole.
The EU underscores the importance of providing access for Indigenous children to education and culture in their own language. This is crucial for fostering a sense of identity and belonging. Education in their own languages, a right set out in UNDRIP, also empowers Indigenous children to connect with their heritage, values and customs. And it ensures that the knowledge and insights contained in the languages is preserved.
Distinguished Members of the Expert Mechanism,
As the decade of Indigenous Languages advances towards its mid-term, what key lessons from the Global Action Plan can you share with regards to education in Indigenous languages?
I thank you.